Army Vacates Daily Trust Offices Following FG Directives Asking Them To Do So

The Nigeria Army has vacated the premises of Daily Trust Newspapers following the directive by the Federal Government asking them to do.

This was made known in a statement by Garba Shehu the Official Spokesperson to the President on Sunday night, that the issues between the military and the newspaper as they affect the coverage of the war in the Northeast will be resolved through dialogue.

The tweet read, “The Federal Government has directed the military to vacate the premises of @daily_trust and the order has been complied with. Issues between the military and the newspaper as they affect the coverage of the war in the Northeast will be resolved through dialogue.”

The military had earlier in the day released a statement citing reasons why it invaded the offices of the Newspaper.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier Gen Sani Usman, who made this known said the soldiers were at the Media Trust office purely to invite the staff of the company and nothing more.

The statement reads, “The Nigerian Army wishes to clarify on alleged invasion of Media Trust headquarters in Abuja and regional office in Maiduguri. We would like to state that soldiers of the Nigerian Army along with elements of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies were indeed in Abuja and Maiduguri offices of the publishing company to invite the staff of the company over its lead story on Sunday Trust publication, which divulged classified military information, thus undermining national security.

“In it, the newspaper made disclosed details of planned military operations against the Boko Haram terrorists. The disclosure of classified security information amounts to a breach of national security and runs contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Official Secrets Act. It afforded the Boko Haram terrorists prior notice of our plans and giving them early warning to prepare against the Nigerian military, thus sabotaging the planned operations and putting the lives of troops in imminent and clear danger.

“We would like to state that the invitation of those responsible for divulging military plans was done with the best of intention in order to make them realise the import of such acts to our national security. We therefore advise all, particularly journalists, not to worry but engage in their responsive reportage and to be professional as the Nigerian Army has no intention of muzzling the press or jeopardising press freedom.

“We, however, wish to enjoin further that they should eschew jeopardising national security in their reportage. We would not tolerate a situation where a publication would consistently side with terrorists and undermine our national institutions.

“We wish to appeal to all, especially the media, to join hands with the Nigerian military and security forces to end terrorism and insurgency in Nigeria. We would like to further assure that the invitation is for further investigation and if need be, all those culpable of jeopardising operations security will be prosecuted by the relevant law enforcement agency.”